Chris Fladgate also serves as an independent arbitrator with experience in a variety of commercial matters having received appointments in over 100 commercial cases, including serving as chair in 20 instances.

Chris, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, is a member of panels for the AAA (Commercial and Consumer) and FINRA, as is also available for non-institution administered arbitrations.

Chris’ approach as an arbitrator is first, to understand, as early as possible, the size and scope of a dispute. From there, and working with counsel, Chris works to ensure the arbitration is conducted in an efficient, cost-effective, and expeditious manner, while maintaining fairness and allowing all parties to present their case in the manner they desire. Chris typically favors parties disclosing witnesses and exchanging materials ahead of hearings in order to avoid surprises while promoting an efficient hearing.

Chris has served as co-counsel with multiple AM Law firms in relation to both domestic and international matters, both by being brought into matters where his skillset is valued and needed, and also by bringing in co-counsel where additional resources and support are required.

Chris is also available to act as a mock arbitrator for counsel involved in high-stakes arbitrations who want to road test opening and/or closing statements, lines of cross-examination, presentation of demonstratives, or pre-hearing oral arguments. Chris is equally comfortable conducting such hearings in person or virtually.

With over 25 years of experience, across New York, Hong Kong, and Australia, Chris Fladgate is a trusted advocate for owners, design professionals, and contractors, providing pragmatic and strategic advice to his clients in construction transactions and disputes.

Chris also acts as external general counsel to various clients in the construction industry and has built a robust practice that focuses on providing comprehensive legal services to stakeholders across the construction industry - owners, design professionals, and contractors – in domestic and international matters ranging from transactional work to high-stakes dispute resolution.

Chris’ approach is defined by his precision, pragmatism, and being results-driven with his experience encompassing a broad spectrum of construction-related matters, including negotiating high-value contracts, resolving disputes through arbitration and litigation, and advising on regulatory compliance.

In relation to disputes, Chris is experienced in both arbitration (whether domestic or international) and state and federal court matters, and is also familiar representing clients in alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation.

On the transactional side, Chris represents clients drafting and negotiating construction management and general contractor agreements, design professional agreements, subcontracts, owner representative agreements, and license agreements (such as RPAPL §881 license agreements). Chris has drafted and negotiated numerous construction agreements in excess of $100 million, for both public and private projects, including in relation to sporting stadiums, arenas, and related facilities, as well design professional agreements in excess of $10 million.

As a strategic adviser, Chris focuses on risk management, minimizing potential disputes, and emphasizing dispute prevention wherever possible.

Chris Fladgate is an experienced arbitration and litigation counsel with over 25 years’ experience representing clients in high-stakes disputes across multiple jurisdictions.

He has earned a reputation for his versatility based on his strategic acumen, pragmatism, and focus on achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. Chris’ approach to a dispute focuses on understanding what his client wants, and then developing a strategy to achieve that outcome. His dispute resolution practice spans diverse areas, including construction law, complex commercial disputes, business divorces, and intellectual property.

Chris has represented a wide range of clients, from multinational corporations to individual stakeholders, in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration. In arbitration, Chris is experienced with both institutional (such as ICC, ICDR, AAA, FINRA, NAM) and ad hoc arbitrations at domestic and international levels. As a litigator, he has expertise at both trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts.

As both arbitration and litigation counsel, Chris has delivered successful results in challenging cases. Notably, he has acted as lead counsel in disputes involving multimillion-dollar construction projects, contractual disputes, and contentious business divorces. His ability to manage complex disputes is demonstrated by his numerous non-US based and foreign-owned entities.

Chris Fladgate is an experienced mediator who focuses on resolving commercial, construction, and intellectual property disputes.

As a mediator, Chris adopts a pragmatic approach, recognizing mediation as a crucial opportunity for parties to control the outcome of their disputes, and he has successfully mediated a wide range of commercial matters, including alleged construction disputes, business divorces, family disputes, and landlord-tenant issues, with a strong emphasis on achieving mutually beneficial resolutions.

Chris is a Part 146 New York Courts mediator and also conducts mediations for Queens Community Mediation Services and the Part 137 Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Program.

Chris is also an adjunct professor at New York Law School’s Mediation Clinic, and co-chair of the New York Lawyers Association ADR Committee.

Chris Fladgate is a highly accomplished whistleblower attorney with extensive experience representing clients, typically under the Dodd-Frank Act.

Chris’ clients, both US-based and foreign, have played a pivotal role in helping to expose corporate misconduct, resulting in approximately $1 billion in regulatory fines and penalties which, in turn, has returned between 10% and 30% of those fine to his clients. All who remained anonymous.

Known for his strategic approach, Chris assists clients in navigating the complex processes of reporting alleged violations to the SEC, CFTC, the Department of Justice and other regulatory bodies, ensuring their rights and anonymity are protected throughout. Chris’ clients have provided information in relation to market manipulation and fixing, Federal Government waste, foreign corruption, and governance and compliance failures - the targets being banks, other domestic and international financial institutions, large multinational companies, government departments, and private employers.

Chris understands why it is difficult being a whistleblower and why many whistleblowers want to remain anonymous. As such, and in order to maximize the chances of success, Chris provides comprehensive guidance, from assessing the validity of potential claims to preparing detailed submissions complying with the required standards.